Goa: BJP National secretary on NDTV being put off-Air

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said that the ban imposed on the channel was not for vested but national interest.

I&B Ministry panel ordered NDTV India be taken off air for 24 hours for it’s coverage of Pathankot attack.

Justifying inter-ministerial committee of Information and broadcasting Ministry’s decision (under the NDA government’s) to put NDTV off-air, BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said that the ban imposed on the channel was not for vested but national interest.

He downplayed the parlance of putting the channel off-air to the ‘censorship’ of the media during the 1975-National emergency.

“Then ruling Congress party had imposed emergency to protect its own ego. This is not the case with the action taken against the NDTV (news channel). In this case the action it is national interest (security).BJP fully respects the freedom of press.” Sharma said.

He added that similar ban was imposed by the UPA government over 20 times.

The BJP national secretary who came to take stock of state polls said that casino operation will be permitted within the scope of Indian laws.